Welcome to The Cali School of Music
All audition information can be found below, outlined step-by-step. We ask that you please review this page thoroughly, as any deviation from these steps may result in a delay to your audition & decision timeline. We look forward to reviewing your application and audition materials!
Step One: Apply to Montclair State University
All prospective students must submit an application to Montclair State University. If you have not already done so, please navigate to the application for your intended academic level and follow the instructions for submission.
First time freshmen and transfer applicants will apply through the undergraduate office of admissions. Click the link below to navigate to the undergraduate admissions page for important information, resources, and the official MSU application.
Graduate & Artist Diploma applicants will apply through the graduate office of admissions. Click the link below to navigate to the graduate admissions page for important information, resources, and the official MSU application.
Current MSU students, who have completed at least one semester of study and wish to change their major to music, are considered internal transfer applicants.
Internal transfer applicants do not need to submit an application to the university, but will be required to do the following:
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- Complete the Audition Registration form
- Submit an essay/statement of purpose
- Audition in person (no video submissions permitted for internal transfers)
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To gain access to the audition registration form, you must send an email to the Coordinator of Music Admissions. In your email, please include your full name, primary instrument, & desired music concentration.
Linsay Setzer – Coordinator of Music Admissions
setzerl@montclair.edu
Step Two: Program Requirements & Repertoire
All music applicants must complete an audition for the Cali School of Music. Your audition may consist of one or more of the following: a formal audition, an interview, a portfolio submission. The combination differs for each program.
Please review both the program requirements & the repertoire thoroughly.
Performance
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad & Grad
Undergraduate, Graduate, Artist’s Diploma
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- no interview or portfolio review is needed for performance applicants
Music Education – School & Community Settings
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad & Grad
Undergraduate & Post Baccalaureate
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- complete an interview with a member of our music education faculty
Note: Jazz+Education (BMus) applicants must follow the jazz repertoire requirements for their primary audition. When submitting your application, you must select “School & Community Settings” as your major of choice. You will then specify that you are a Jazz+Education applicant on your audition form.
Graduate
Master of Arts in Teaching Certification (MAT) & Master of Arts (MA) applicants do not have to audition. However, they must contact Dr. Marissa Silverman via email to schedule an interview, once their application is submitted.
Dr. Marissa Silverman (Graduate Music Education Coordinator) – silvermanm@montclair.edu
Music Therapy
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad & Grad
Undergraduate
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- complete an interview with a member of our music therapy faculty. During the interview, you will be required to complete a self-accompaniment performance, as follows:
- sing one (1) song from any genre of music while self-accompanying on your choice of piano or guitar. Use of basic block chords is fully acceptable. Precise written accompaniments are not required.
Undergraduate students may choose to follow the classical or the jazz repertoire for their primary instrument or voice audition. If you choose to audition with classical repertoire, your performance-based courses will follow the classical course curriculum. If you choose to audition with the jazz repertoire, your performance-based courses will follow the jazz course curriculum.
Graduate
- Graduate applicants do not have to complete a formal audition. Instead, graduate applicants must schedule an interview, during which you will be required to complete a self-accompaniment performance, as follows:
- Sing two (2) songs from any genre of music while self-accompanying – one song on guitar & one song on piano. Use of basic block chords is fully acceptable. Precise written accompaniments are not required.
- Please pre-record each song as a video and submit them to your application portal. Or you may share the videos via email when scheduling your interview.
- To schedule an interview, graduates must send an email to Dr. Brian Abrams at abramsb@montclair.edu
Music Composition & Theory
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad & Grad
Undergraduate & Graduate
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- complete an interview with a member of our faculty
- prepare a portfolio to be reviewed during your interview, that includes the following:
- Composers: at least three (3) compositions. These may be original works or arrangements but should exhibit the use of several different instruments or voices – especially in combinations of two or more. Recordings of at least two of your submitted compositions is strongly recommended.
Jazz Studies & Jazz Education
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad & Grad
All jazz applicants and jazz primary auditions must follow the required jazz repertoire, included on the Audition Repertoire page.
Jazz Studies:
- audition on a primary instrument or voice (no interview required)
Jazz Education:
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- complete an interview with a member of our music education faculty
Note: Jazz+Education (BMus) applicants must follow the jazz repertoire requirements for their primary audition. When submitting your application, you must select “School & Community Settings” as your major of choice. You will then specify you are a Jazz+Education major on your audition registration form.
Jazz + Music Therapy:
- audition on a primary instrument or voice
- complete an interview with a member of our music therapy faculty. During the interview, you will be required to complete a self-accompaniment performance, as follows:
- sing one (1) song from any genre of music while self-accompanying on your choice of piano or guitar. Use of basic block chords is fully acceptable. Precise written accompaniment is not required
Recording Arts and Production
Instrumental & Vocal
Undergrad
- prepare a portfolio that demonstrates your musicality and showcases your current abilities. The portfolio should include at least two (2) of any of the following projects:
- a performance on a music instrument, vocals, hardware (ex. push controller), audio projects, sound design, cover songs, original songs, or beat making examples. You may perform/include any songs or repertoire of your choice
- the components that make up your portfolio must be organized into either a YouTube playlist, or a Google Drive folder. You will be required to submit the link to your portfolio on the audition registration form. Please ensure the proper settings for a sharable link are selected so faculty can access your materials.
- complete an interview with a member of the recording arts & production faculty
Questions regarding the requirements or portfolio materials can be sent to Dr. Bryan Powell at powellb@montclair.edu
RA&P applicants do not have to complete a formal/classical audition. Your “audition” consists of the above-mentioned portfolio & interview. RA&P applicants are required to follow the same audition registration and scheduling steps outlined for all applicants in order to mark your audition as complete and guarantee an interview & review of your materials.
Audition repertoire varies by academic level, your chosen program, and your instrument or voice.
Use the links below to navigate to the requirements for your academic level and then review the repertoire for your primary instrument or voice.
Undergraduate Audition Repertoire
Graduate Audition Repertoire
Step Three: Audition
Once an application is submitted, students are eligible to audition. It’s important to note that registering for an audition is mandatory for all applicants. Please review the information below to complete your audition registration.
Types of Auditions
The Cali School of Music offers two options to complete an audition. Both methods require a non-refundable audition fee of $35, which can be paid through your application portal.
Live Audition – applicants will complete an in-person audition, on campus. You may choose your audition date, but the time of your audition will be scheduled for you. Your schedule will be emailed to you about one (1) week prior to your chosen audition date. If an interview is required for your major, it will be included in your audition schedule.
Video Audition – applicants will video record the required audition repertoire & submit the videos as links for review. You may submit up to 4 individual links, or you can organize all of your video files into a singular, sharable YouTube playlist or Google Drive folder. If an interview is required for your major, you will be scheduled for a zoom call on your chosen audition date. You must have your videos ready at the time you submit your audition registration form. You will not be able to submit your form without the videos.
How to Register for an Audition
Audition registration is available through your application portal, only after your application has been submitted.
You will have access to the audition registration form through a link on your application checklist. Follow the link to the registration page, where you will choose an audition date & method, then complete the form that follows.
When registering for an audition, please only choose one audition date & one type of audition.
Audition Dates & Deadlines
November 8th, 2024 (Friday)
Video Submissions Only
Interviews will take place between 10am-4pm
Spring 2025 transfers & Fall 2025 early bird applicants
Registration Deadline: Oct 26th
February 8th, 2025 (Saturday)
Live Auditions & Video Submissions
Auditions will run between 10am-8pm
Fall 2025 – all applicants
Registration Deadline: Jan 18th
February 15th, 2025 (Saturday)
Live Auditions & Video Submissions
Auditions will run between 10am-8pm
Fall 2025 – all applicants
Registration Deadline: Jan 25th
March 29th, 2025 (Saturday)
Live Auditions & Video Submissions
Auditions will run between 10am-8pm
Fall 2025 – all applicants
Registration Deadline: Mar 8th
Live Auditions
Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email that includes details for attending your audition. Please refer to that email & the information below to ensure you are fully prepared.
- Review the program requirements and make sure you have prepared all that is listed, including any additional interview or portfolio materials specific to your major of choice.
- Prepare extra copies of your music. Instrumentalists – please bring 1 spare copy of your music should faculty wish to review. Vocalists – your repertoire must be memorized, but please bring a prepared binder (ipad is also acceptable) with at least 1 copy of your music for our accompanist.
- Attire: you may wear whatever you feel comfortable in. This can range from formal audition attire to jeans & a t-shirt. We invite you to wear what you are most comfortable in, what is most accessible to you, and what makes you feel like you are putting your best foot forward during your audition day.
- There are no additional events planned for the audition days (tours, group info sessions, placement tests). We will have a waiting area with light snacks & water available, as well as student ambassadors and faculty present, should you wish to ask questions or mingle with current students. Placement tests will be given only after you have been offered admission.
Video Auditions
Recording Guidelines
- Make sure you are in a quiet, well-lit space and briefly introduce each song. You may record your music solo, with a backing track, or with an accompanist. If you use an accompanist or track, please check that your playing/singing is heard clearly in the video and is not overpowered.
- Please make sure that you are framed correctly. Vocalists – at minimum, we must see you from the waist up. Instrumentalists – we must see your face, and all aspects of your playing (hands & instrument).
- All scale requirements should be recorded in one video or edited into one video file. Repertoire can be recorded & submitted individually.
- Be mindful to double check that you have recorded all of the required repertoire for your primary instrument or voice. Any applicants with missing or incorrect repertoire will not be reviewed until all requirements are submitted correctly.
Submitting Videos
- Your videos will be submitted through your audition registration form. Therefore, you must have your videos ready at the time you register for an audition date. Please be mindful of the audition registration deadlines if you are choosing to audition through video.
- You can choose to submit your videos as a Google Drive link or a YouTube link. You must submit a minimum of one (1) link and will have the option for a maximum of four (4) links. It is preferred that you create a single playlist or google drive folder with all the audition requirements to submit as one link. You may list your audition videos as “private” but please ensure that link sharing is turned on so all required faculty can review your materials.
Additional Information
All admitted students to the Cali School of Music are considered for a talent scholarship based on multiple factors – including the university application, audition results, academic records, recommendations, and institutional need for each program and instrument.
You do not need to apply for a talent scholarship to be considered for aid from the Cali School. Selected students will be contacted by the Director of the Cali School, only after you have received your audition results, and once your application is completed in full. The expected timeline for an offer is mid-late April, once the majority of our applicants have had a chance to audition.
Applicants to The John J. Cali School of Music may also qualify for one of the scholarships, grants, and/or other sources of financial aid offered by the University. The following resources may be helpful:
University Office of Financial Aid
Below are some of the most common inquiries we receive surrounding the audition process. If your question is not answered, please feel free to reach out to the Coordinator of Music Admissions, listed in the ‘Contact Us’ box below.
Additionally, please note that the office of admissions for your chosen level of study handles all things related to the University application. Questions regarding the application, submitting materials, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc. – should be addressed to the admissions office relative to your level of study.
Do I need to submit a separate application for Montclair State University and the John J. Cali School of Music?
No, you only need to submit one application to the University. Once you select ‘music’ as your program of choice, the application will auto-update with an additional form for the Cali School.
Do I need to submit anything to the portfolio section of my application?
The portfolio section of your application is used to review portfolio materials (Theory/Comp, Recording Arts). If you are not auditioning through video submissions or either of the mentioned concentrations, you do not need to utilize the portfolio.
When is the deadline to submit my application/supplemental materials?
Your application, supplemental materials, and audition registration all need to be completed 2 weeks prior to your chosen audition date.
For further information, please scroll up to review the Audition Dates & Deadlines.
What is the difference between the Music Education – Classical Focus, and the Music Education – Jazz Focus?
The Cali School offers one complete degree in Music Education (listed as School & Community Settings). However, students may choose between the Classical Focus – where your primary instrument & ensemble studies are based around classical repertoire, or the Jazz Focus – where your primary instrument & ensemble studies are based around jazz repertoire.
While your application will reflect Music Education – School & Community Settings as your chosen major/concentration, there are clarifying questions on the audition registration form that will allow you to make the distinction between classical & jazz. Additionally, the repertoire and audition process will differ for each focus.
Those interested in Music Education – Classical, will follow the repertoire requirements listed for Music Education under your primary instrument. Those interested in Music Education – Jazz, will follow the repertoire requirements listed under Jazz Studies & Jazz Education.
Do you offer music minors?
We do not offer minors in music.
How do I register for an audition?
Audition registration is completed online, only after you have submitted your application. You will have access to the private audition registration link through your application portal.
For further information, please scroll up to review the Audition Registration and Methods.
Are there pre-screenings?
There are no pre-screenings for any of the programs at the Cali School at this time.
Can I audition for two programs at the same audition?
We do not accept dual consideration at the same audition date. However, students are permitted to re-audition for another program, or on another instrument, after their initial audition.
Do I need to take placement tests at the audition?
No, placement tests are not part of the audition process. Pending a successful audition and acceptance to the Cali School, students will receive emails with the links to placement tests for aural skills and theory classes only. Your results will not affect your admission decision and are only used to ensure you are placed into the correct course levels. These emails are typically sent after the audition season has fully ended (May or June).
I chose my audition date, but I haven’t received my time yet. When will I get that?
Audition & Interview times are scheduled manually by the Coordinator of Music Admissions and will be sent in a confirmation email about 1-2 weeks prior to your chosen audition date.
Do I need to bring my own instrument?
All Instrumentalists are expected to bring their own instrument, except for percussionists & pianists. If you do not own your primary instrument, or need access to one because of travel, please reach out to the Coordinator of Music Admissions to see if we can supply you with an instrument for your audition.
Do I need to bring an accompanist?
No, you do not need an accompanist. Instrumentalists should be prepared to perform on their primary instrument without an accompanist; vocalists will be provided with an accompanist from our faculty. Please bring a copy of your sheet music to supply to the accompanist at your audition.
If you are auditioning with video submissions, you may choose to perform solo or provide your own accompanist or backing tracks. Please ensure your voice/instrument is not overpowered by the accompaniment.
Can I submit a video instead of a live audition?
Yes. While we prefer for all applicants to audition in person, we understand that some students may have religious, travel, or alternative conflicts on our offered audition dates.
How do I submit an audition video?
Videos are submitted on your audition registration form. You must have your videos ready when you complete the form or else it will not allow for submission.
Do I need to register for an audition if I am submitting a video?
Yes – you cannot submit a video without registering for an audition.
What if I can’t attend any of the scheduled audition dates but still wish to audition in person?
We highly encourage you to prioritize your college audition and offer several dates & methods to do so. If you are still unable to attend any of the scheduled audition dates, please reach out to the Coordinator of Music Admissions for alternative options. These are subject to faculty availability and are not guaranteed.
If I don’t pass my audition, what are my options?
Incoming students may audition up to three separate times for the Cali School. If you do not pass your initial audition, you are welcome to reach out to the Music Admissions Coordinator and request to register for a future audition date. Or, if you feel you need more time to prepare for another audition, you may enter the University undeclared/undecided (pending academic acceptance) and audition to transfer into Cali as a change of major during your first semester, or at the end of your first year.
Tours
The University offers both in person & virtual tours of the campus. These are run through the undergraduate admissions office and can be scheduled online. For more information regarding a campus visit & tour, please follow the link below.
The Cali School, located in Chapin Hall, is not included on the University’s Campus Tour. Applicants who visit for a live audition are welcome to tour the building on their own, as time allows during your audition day. We invite all others interested in viewing the Cali School facilities to review our virtual tour below.
Shadow Days
Interested applicants to the Cali School may ask to participate in a shadow day. Shadow days allow you to be paired with current students in the program that most interests you, while immersing yourself in what it means to be a Cali School music major for the day. Shadow days are scheduled and set up with our Recruitment Coordinator. Please see the contact information below. You may reach out anytime to express your interest in setting up a shadow day.
Questions regarding the application, application deadline/process, and required supplemental materials should be directed to the admissions office appropriate for your level of study.
Questions regarding the audition process & audition registration can be directed to:
Linsay Setzer
Coordinator of Music Admissions & Recruitment
setzerl@montclair.edu